Office of the Dean of Student Life

Let’s Talk

“Let’s Talk” is a program that provides drop-in confidential consultation to Veterans and ROTC Cadets at OSU. It’s free, no appointment is necessary, and students are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

This service will be available on Mondays from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Winter term weeks 4-10 in the MU JPLC Talisman Room.

Speaking with a counselor consultant can help provide insight, solutions, and information about other resources.

Let’s Talk is not a substitute for formal counseling and doesn’t constitute mental health treatment, but the counseling consultant can listen to your specific problems and introduce you to what it’s like to speak to a counselor.

No topic is off limits. Common concerns include:

stress

sadness

worry

relationships

academic performance

family problems

financial struggles

Who should visit Let’s Talk?

Any Veteran at OSU or ROTC Cadet can come to a Let’s Talk consultation, but it’s the best fit for student veterans or cadets who:

Aren’t sure about counseling or wonder what it’s like to talk to a counselor;

Aren’t interested in ongoing counseling but would like the perspective of a counselor;

Have a specific problem and would like someone with whom to talk it through; or

Have a concern about a friend or family member and would like ideas about what to do.

The Let’s Talk Program at Oregon State University is based on the Let’s Talk Program at Cornell University.

What happens at a visit to Let’s Talk?

When you come to the site, look to see if the office door is open. If it is, please come on in. If the door is closed, have a seat in a nearby chair and wait a few minutes until the counselor consultant comes to greet you. When you two meet, the counselor consultant will listen closely to your concerns, possibly ask questions and provide, support, perspective and suggestions for resources.

What should I do if the Let’s Talk counselor consultant is already meeting with someone?

If the counselor consultant is already meeting with someone, the office door will be closed with a sign indicating that the office is occupied. In this case, please have a seat in a nearby chair and wait for the counselor consultant to come out and greet you. The wait is usually not long.

How is Let’s Talk different from counseling at CAPS?

Counselors at CAPS provide ongoing counseling, which usually consists of weekly or bi-monthly

45-50 minute appointments. Let’s Talk is not formal counseling; it is a drop-in service where student veterans and cadets can have an informal consultation with a counselor consultant from time to time.

Need help with an urgent mental health crisis? CAPS offers 24-hour crisis intervention services for enrolled students or for those who are concerned about an enrolled student. If you are feeling desperate or thinking about suicide, or you’re afraid for the well being of someone you know, you can call CAPS at 541-737-2131.

I think I have a problem that would benefit from counseling, but I don’t know anything about it. Would going to Let’s Talk help me figure out what to do?

Absolutely. The counselor consultant will help you talk through your issues and help you determine the best way to get help. If you feel comfortable with the counselor consultant, it is sometimes possible to meet with her at CAPS in an on-going way.

Let’s Talk visits are confidential. Are there any limits to confidentiality?

Conversations are confidential, with a few very rare exceptions. Counselors may need to share information in an emergency when there is an immediate threat of harm to self or others. Counselors are required by law to report when a minor, elderly person, or someone otherwise incapacitated and unable to act on his/her own behalf is being abused. Let’s Talk counselors keep brief written notes of their contacts with students, and in the event that there is an emergency or a student is referred to CAPS, other CAPS staff may see these notes. Finally, these notes can be released in the unlikely event of a court order.

The student veteran or cadet will co-develop and co-sign a brief record of contact.

Let’s Talk visits are never reported on a student’s official university record.

We don’t want anything to be a barrier to students accessing help. If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with the Let’s Talk counselor consultant.